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One Direction accept the award for pop/rock band, duo or group on stage at the 42nd annual American Music Awards. (Matt Sayles / Invision/AP)

By Mesfin FekaduThe Associated Press

Sun., Nov. 23, 2014

One Direction has won the American Music Award for artist of the year.

Competition in the category was tough, with Iggy Azalea, Beyoncé, Luke Bryan, Eminem, Imagine Dragons, John Legend, Lorde, Katy Perry and Pharrell Williams up for the honour.

The final prize of the night was the third award the British boy band claimed during Sunday’s ceremony. One Direction also claimed trophies for favourite pop/rock duo or group and pop/rock album for ‘Midnight Memories.’

“This has been a real perfect day ... America feels like a second home to us,” Liam Payne said onstage with his band mates.

Breakthrough newcomer Iggy Azalea won her first award ever at the American Music Awards, taking down rap heavyweights Eminem and Drake.

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Azalea won favourite rap/hip-hop album for her debut, ‘The New Classic.’

“This award is the first award I’ve ever won in my entire life, and it means so much to me that it is for best hip-hop because that’s what inspired me to move to America and pursue my dreams, and it’s what helped me when I was a teenager to escape and to get through my life and to better times,” the 24-year-old Australian rapper said Sunday at the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live, as her mentor T.I. stood beside her.

“And it means so much that I can stand here against Eminem and Drake and come out with this,” she continued.

Azalea was the lead nominee with six, including artist of the year. She performed her massive hit, ‘Fancy,’ which was nominated for single of the year, as well as her new song, ‘Beg for It.’

Taylor Swift kicked off the AMAs as a mad woman and man eater by feeding a boy a poisonous apple, holding burning roses and giving crazy eyes during a performance of her song about her dating life.

Swift sang her new number one hit, ‘Blank Space,’ Sunday night at the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live. She was aggressive, grabbing her male dancers by their blazers and singing in character on bended knee. She even removed part of her dress to reveal a shimmery, leg-revealing gold number. She also received the first-ever Dick Clark Award for Excellence, presented by Diana Ross.

Ariana Grande took the stage to sing lounge-y, piano-versions of her upbeat hits ‘Problem’ and ‘Break Free.’ She followed that with a duet of her latest hit, ‘Love Me Harder,’ with The Weeknd, as Grande’s older brother jumped up in joy, MAGIC! leader Nasir Atweh sang along and Heidi Klum bopped her head.

Swift was also a cheerleader when her friend Lorde thrashed and sang onstage.

Sam Smith won favourite male artist — pop/rock.

“Genuinely from my heart I didn’t think I was going to be winning this. This is unreal,” the British singer said, who beat Pharrell and John Legend. “But mainly, thank you to my fan base. You guys are amazing, and last year I wrote an album about being lonely and tonight, I couldn’t feel further from lonely, so thank you so much.”

Host Pitbull followed Swift’s performance with a string of jokes, and also performed with R&B singer Ne-Yo. The night featured a slew of A-Listers onstage, including Garth Brooks, Fergie, Selena Gomez, Lil Wayne, Lorde and Nicki Minaj.

Bryan, who was named entertainer of the year at the Country Music Association Awards this month, took home favourite male artist — country.

“I wanna thank God above for letting me tour night in and night out on the road. I want to thank the fans for making it possible to stand up here and win the awards,” he said, also thanking “my band, my crew, bus driver, momma and them, you know.”

Katy Perry won favourite female artist — pop/rock, and accepted her award from Australia where she is on tour. Carrie Underwood was named favourite female artist — country and Beyonce’s self-titled album won favourite album — soul/R&B.

The soundtrack for ‘Frozen,’ the year’s top-selling album, won top soundtrack.

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